The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-22
AN EMPHATIC DENIAL.
Mr.. Ellis 6. & raydon. of Abbville, Re
flutes the injurious story
Told About Him.

spite OF the gravity OF the charges
against me.
At the Grand Central Hotel in
Columbia, on last Friday, (not in the
House Of Representatives. in con-
versation between two friends and
myself, something was said by one
of them in jocular way about men
who have been elected to office in
this State solely because they had
received wounds in the Confederate
service, and who had rot another
qualification for Office. I replied in
the same manner, in substance. that
itwould be better for the State if all
such battle.scarred veterans were
dead politically. One of them said
he thought it very honorable SEN
timent to reward with Office men who
had been manned in the war. | said
yes, think so too, other things being
equal; but that fact should not be
allowed to outweigh every other con-
sideration and put men into offices
who are incompetent to discharge
their duties. 1t this be treason, then
l am traitor.
The article referred to would make
it appear that deliberately insulted
g manned Confederate veteran, who
is ar Office holder. I was talking to
my two friends, and did not know
such man was in earshot. | may
state also that one of the men I was
talking to is an ex-Confederate
soldier. He did not take any offence
at it, because he knew none was in
tended to him or anybody else.
If any man who knows me or who
does not know me is foolish enough
to think that | could say a word or
entertain a thought disrespectful to a
Confederate soldier, ask him to
consider these facts: Ny father was
Confederate soldier. Only few
months ago be joined the silent ma
jority. At the beginning Of the war
had eight uncles, the only mem
bers of my family old enough to 60
into the army. One of them was a
chaplain Of regiment, the other
seven fought in the ranks. One Of
them has died since the war, tho re-
suit in. part. of wounds received in
battle. Two Of them survive with
their bodies covered with scars made
by minnie balls. One of these has
discharged for eleven years the duties
of an important Office to the entire
satisfaction of his constituents. The
homes of the other four lie bleaching
on the battleAelds of Tennessee and
Virginia. How many families in
South Carolina can show a better
record.
l trust you will repair the injury
done me as far as possible by pub
fishing this communication, and that
any newspapers which have pub
lished it will copy this,
ELLIS 6. GRAYDoN.
Abbeville, S. c.. Dec. IA, 1887.
P. S,-Sinoe writing the above l
have seen your editorial of December
II. 1 an much obliged to Capt.
Branch and to you for correction.
ELLIS G. GRAYDoN.
"cONFEDERATE VETERANS INDIG-
NANT."
The Columbia correspondent of
the Neus axd Courier says: The
statement Of Mr.. w, T. Branch, pub
ished in the News and Courier does
not tally with any report which can
be obtained in Colpmbia:" The RsG'
aaer's account is as foliews:
The Confederate veterans, who
bear as honorable evidences of their
services wounds and scars, or per.
haps have lost an arm or leg on the
battlefield, ieei justly indignant over
the report Of statemenes made re-
garding them by M-, Ellis G. Gray
don, Of Abheville, who vas an un'
successful candidate for Circuit
Judge. agaiIst Judge Norton, who is
himself one armed veteran.
The Register reporter traced the
report to the source and found the
following to be the facts: Last
week, Friday, in the Office Of the
Grand Central Hotel, Mr.. Graydon'
Col. Irhy. of Lsurens, Mr.. Gasque,
of Marion, one Of the bookeepers OF
the House. were sitting in conver'
sation, the Confederate pension bill
being the topic thereof In the talk
Mr.. Graydon used words to the effect
that it would be good thing for the
State if all the SCARED and crippled
Confederate soldiers were dead and
out of the way, as they nov ran 1oE
offices they we're not competent to
fiji and we're elected by sympathy.
@Mr. Gaseue, on whose authority
this statement is made, and who is
himself crippled in one arm by aes'
vice in the war, vas so justly
offended that be rose and left the
place, lest he be tempted to forcibly
show his Indignation.
1T is due Mr.. GEayGan to say
that it hsa heea since stated by him
shat his words we're spoken in jest
but this explanation is not sufficient
and there is good reason for the
feeling of Indignation which, as has
been said, prevails among all Con
federates who have heard of his Ian
guage. He should hasten to re,'u
dlate such sentiments if he ever
uttered or maintained them, and he
will find it difficult to make those
who properly were the veterans who
eallantly risked wounds and loss o.
limb and life itself in the CunIeder
scy, belieye chat even in Jest sScf
words as those reported coming from